Need some help with Wiz/Rog Build

[Ookami007]

So, I'm starting a wizard with rogue skills. I chose Drow for the extra INT, DEX and CHA. I could have gone WF, but I prefer Drow.

I started out first level as a rogue for the extra skills... and to make them class skills for the rest of my career. Was this a good or bad move?

My next levels will be wizard. With my 20 INT, I can keep up the big skills (Disable, Open & Search/Spot).

My questions are this:

1) Is starting off as a rogue the right move?
2) When should I take my 2nd level of rogue for evasion and more skills?

Thanks for any advice/help you can offer.

[Phidius]

1. Yes, level 1 should be Rogue.
2. I think around level 9, as you'll have 4th level spells and can spend your Rogue level skill points without wasting them.

Last piece of advice: You should reconsider going WF, unless you're really into pain. If you're dead set on going Drow, get max ranks in UMD - you'll need 'em :D

[ciep]

Phidius is right on with the placement of the second level of rogue and the need to do UMD on this build, which is viable (don't worry about it until your second level of rogue, when you can pretty much max it out).

Also, drow is absolutely viable and powerful in this build. It is important to keep your blur/displacement/stoneskin up, but have a decent enough con and you'll be fine, and will still be able to solo pretty much anything. Human would be a third option (and the best rogue of the bunch, but you'll be fine either way).

[Ookami007]

What feats would you recommend? I've already taken:

1) Insightful Reflexes (1st)
2) Toughness (Wiz1)
3) Mental Toughness (3rd)
4) Maximize (6th)
5) Extend (Wiz5)

Should I swap out any of them? I plan to eventually swap out Mental for something else, but for now I need the extra spell points.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[Nevthial]

Insightful Reflexes
Toughness
Mental Toughness
Maximize
Empower
Extend
Enlarge
Spell Penetration

These are the base feats I keep on my main. ( A Drow Wiz 18/ Rogue 2 ) The rest you would just use to fit your playstyle. I have Skill Focus: UMD on mine for example currently, but have had Quicken , Spell Focus feats and others in the past. I merely don't change the above list and it has worked very well.

[Bart_D]

i have recently started a very similar character just human, mostly for Human Versatility and more con/toughness. So far (rogue1/wiz6) it's a lot of fun, enjoy being a better trapper than rogues of same level and looking forward to getting firewall :)

I decided to dump dex to 10 as it's only for AC/open lock and so far i have not had any trouble picking locks... wondering if it will last?

[spartin]

bart, most (not all) locks can be picked with minimal ol skills. my wiz stoped at 5 points into it, get the best item, for your level and +5 tools and buff up (gh, voice/HoGF, skill boost) and you shouldnt have a problem. may take a good roll, but you can get most of em

[Bart_D]

Thanks for the heads up - but as i have low dex (10) and few resources for tools and equipment, maybe i should go a little higher than 5 ranks?

I find that this character makes it easier to form a party as he fulfills two roles at the same time, trapping/unlocking and arcane spells.

By the way: How much Spot is needed to be useful? I currently have wis 8 and 4 ranks ... which means i miss some traps i have forgotten are there. Does it need to be maxed to be useful or will less be sufficient?